Police arrest seven over murder of IBBU Lapai student in cult clash

Police in Niger State have arrested seven suspected cult members linked to the killing of a student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBU).

The victim, identified as Abdulwahab Jafar, was murdered during a violent cult clash in Lapai on 23 June. The unrest forced Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to temporarily shut down the university.

Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the command’s Tactical Support Team (TST) and Force Intelligence Department (FID STS) arrested 19 suspects during follow-up operations across Lapai and other locations. Investigators later narrowed the case to seven individuals believed to have been directly involved in Jafar’s death.

According to Abiodun, the suspects are members of the Neo Black Movement of Africa (NBM) — a group allegedly linked to violent cultism, armed robbery, and internet fraud. He said the arrests followed credible intelligence and raids, during which cannabis, charms, weapons, and a Toyota Corolla were recovered.

The men in custody are:

• Idris Hamza, 27, of Maikunkele
• Suleiman Damilare, 27, of Maikunkele
• Abdulsemiu Bashir, 23, of Lapai
• Bawa Aliyu, 27, of Suleja
• Yakubu Musa (aka Pypa), 24, of Maikunkele
• Samson Abbah (aka Small), 28, of R/Yanshi
• Solomon Musa (aka Cabella), 28, of Maitumbi

Police said the suspects confessed to cult membership and participation in initiation rites on campus. One of the suspects, Bashir, was arrested with 16 SIM cards, a POS machine, and ₦77,000 cash, and is suspected of belonging to the rival Vikings confraternity.

“The attack that led to Abdulwahab’s death has been confirmed as cult-related,” Abiodun said. “Investigations are still ongoing to determine whether NBM or Vikings members were directly responsible. Further updates will be made public.”

The case has reignited concerns about the rising wave of campus cultism in Nigerian universities, which continues to claim the lives of students.